hr | Ascent

Underwriting Manual

hr | Ascent is Hannover Re’s online underwriting manual that caters for a broad spectrum of underwriting considerations with varying degrees of complexity. Frequently updated, the dynamic nature of hr | Ascent, coupled with a powerful search engine, enables users worldwide to respond rapidly and competitively, saving time in the evaluation of life insurance risks

As a global, web-based underwriting guide, hr | Ascent is easily accessible and its intuitive design makes it convenient for all levels of users. hr | Ascent utilises the latest technology to help users in their day-to-day activities – irrespective of their workplace: at the office, at home, or whilst travelling.

hr | Ascent’s ratings are based on leading research from Hannover Re’s international underwriting experts, medical consultants and actuaries. Their ongoing contributions ensure that the underwriting manual stays current through continuous refinement.

Underwriting

hr | Ascent provides comprehensive, easy-to-follow guidance on the five important risk criteria for underwriting.

The intuitive user interface allows for easy navigation through its flexible search tool, quick links as well as the ability to save favourite pages. With clearly represented ratings and easy access to key information, rating decisions are no more than a few clicks away.

Medical risks

  • > 500 illustrated medical conditions
  • Video tutorials
  • Calculators to simplify complex conditions

Occupational risks

  • Tailored occupational list
  • Up-to-date job titles
  • Decisions based on applicants’ actual activities

Avocational risks

  • Ratings for professionals and amateurs
  • Evaluation of risk factors
  • Descriptions of major risks

Financial risks

  • Insurability checklists
  • Explanations of types of cover
  • Brief product outlines

Geographical risks

  • > 200 countries
  • Assessing applicants residing/travelling abroad
  • Considerations of dynamic global factors

Regionalised content

hr | Ascent’s content is developed based on leading research from Hannover Re’s global underwriting experts, medical consultants, and actuaries. Their ongoing contributions ensure that the underwriting manual stays up to date through continuous refinement and global underwriting developments and practices. We have local experts in each region such as our hr | Ascent Team in Australia who maintain content and develop region-specific enhancements to the manual. This ensures that our guidelines take specific local conditions and best practices into consideration from the outset.

Reference tool

hr | Ascent serves the needs of an experienced underwriter and at the same time provides educational support to developing junior underwriters, all by the depth of its information. Supplementary information is provided on each impairment or risk factor within the manual. In addition to the risk assessment rating pages, each medical condition has an inbuilt “Risk Information” page to assist the underwriter with a comprehensive risk evaluation. This page may contain the following topics where applicable:

  • Definition Narrative
  • Findings / Symptoms
  • Treatment / Medications
  • Risk classification
  • Tests / Procedures
  • Underwriting information
  • Prognosis

Resources section

A resources section with information on abbreviations, glossary, laboratory tests and medical investigations complete the working foundation for underwriters.

In addition, hr | Ascent may be used as a repository for underwriting questionnaires to ensure that all evaluation criteria are available within the platform.

Innovative calculation engine

hr | Ascent’s innovative calculators help evaluate complex medical information rapidly. We have designed, developed, and implemented various underwriting risk calculators to optimise the way core medical impairments are evaluated by underwriters.

These innovative tools effectively integrate into our automated underwriting solutions and ensure such ratings align with manual assessments. There is a range of calculators available such as Build, Blood Pressure, Coronary Artery Disease and more recently Mental Health and Diabetes Mellitus etc.

They are regularly reviewed and updated based on advancements in the management of conditions and user feedback.

No matter where you are

With hr | Ascent you are never more than two clicks away from a rating

The future

Comprehensive cancer calculator

Our global Cancer Collaboration Group includes a network of global experts with a shared interest in revising cancer ratings using SEER data analytics in conjunction with contemporary publications on emerging cancer treatment outcomes. This work will enable cancer ratings to be derived through a sophisticated Cancer Calculator. With the rapidly evolving oncology landscape, many cancers that previously carried a poor prognosis have significantly improved long-term outcomes as a result of advancements in medical technology (such as genetic profiling of tumours) and targeted therapies.

State-of-the-art technology

hr | Ascent is undergoing remarkable technical upgrades such as:

  • Transformation into native cloud solution
  • Optimised user experience
  • Enhanced mobile capabilities
  • Quicker regionalised content development
  • Deployments and updates without downtime
  • Agile system with integration using API’s
  • Increased stability and security
  • Worldwide AWS cloud distribution

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